# Community supporting healthy aging and rehabilitation in Groningen Netherlands > The themes of the summer school were Future Health and Healthy Ageing. ## Summer School Experience We participated in a summer school at Hanze University of Applied Sciences (Groningen, Netherlands) as part of our Master’s degree studies and a course on working and studying in an international environment. The Summer School in Future Health lasted for three weeks. There were 21 social and health care Bachelor’s students from the USA and Canada. We, four Finnish students and one teacher, participated in a one-week trip. Our participation was a pilot in the Erasmus+ program, and we were instructed to work as mentors for the Bachelor’s students. The themes of the summer school were Future Health and Healthy Ageing. We were given a health challenge: how to add +5 healthy years to the average lifespan in the Netherlands and how to decrease health disparities by 30%. We worked with this challenge for a week through lectures, group work, and excursions to four different rehabilitation centers. One solution identified was community prevention. ## Care Farming at Stadsboerderij Boegbeeld We visited Stadsboerderij Boegbeeld, a healthcare farm in Groningen. The main purpose of the farm is to give meaning and a sense of belonging through work to people with intellectual disabilities. Clients maintain an animal farm and a small café that are open to the public. The Netherlands is a pioneer in care farming. While there are challenges—such as gaining access to land and a lack of recognition for social farming in urban areas—the benefits include a green environment, a safe community, and useful, versatile activities. One client, who had worked at the farm for over 15 years, highlighted the sense of pride and community the facility provides, noting that he even planned to celebrate his wedding there with his colleagues. ## Vision Rehabilitation and Community Integration Vision impairments, such as cataracts and refractive errors, are common among those over 50. In the Netherlands, it is estimated that more than half of visual impairments could be prevented with screening and awareness campaigns. We visited Visio, a treatment and rehabilitation center for people with intellectual and sensory disabilities. The facility emphasizes integration; clients live in their own apartments with round-the-clock care, and the center includes workspaces like a candle factory, shop, and post office where clients can use their talents. The center actively integrates with the surrounding village, allowing children to visit the farm and clients to shop in the community, ensuring they are not hidden or isolated. ## Urban Planning and Well-being Groningen is a vibrant city characterized by colorful houses, canals, houseboats, and a strong cycling culture. The city is not packed with cars; space is prioritized for people, parks, and open gardens. This environment prompted us to consider the impact of urban structural planning on citizen well-being and the feeling of community spirit. ## Reflections on International Teamwork We found the peer support among the four Finnish students invaluable for reflecting on our experiences. We observed cultural differences in teamwork: while North American students were highly efficient and adept at using technology, we valued a process where all thoughts are shared and discussed before assigning individual tasks. We concluded that the learning process and the power of community spirit are more important than individual speed or grades. ## Conclusion All participants came from welfare states and shared similar challenges: aging populations, increasing chronic illness, and limited resources. We learned that while the USA focuses on campaigns to increase individual knowledge, the Netherlands emphasizes collective prevention. This trip provided us with new ways to study and work, and we are grateful to Savonia and Hanze for the opportunity. **Authors:** Leena Hartikainen and Eevaleena Taala, Master’s degree program of rehabilitation, Savonia University of Applied Sciences. ## References * De Ziljen. [https://dezijlen.nl/wie-zijn-wij/de-organisatie/](https://dezijlen.nl/wie-zijn-wij/de-organisatie/). Referred to 14.8.2023. * Elings, Marjolein, Hassink, Jan, van den Nieuwenhuizen, Noor, Smit, Annet & Zweekhorst, Marjolein 2010. Health & Place. Volume 16, Issue 3, May 2010, Pages 423-430. 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Referred to 14.8.2023. * van der Meulen, Harold. A.B., & Plug, Lana. B. 2020. The Care Farming Sector in The Netherlands: A Reflection on Its Developments and Promising Innovations. [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341219201_The_Care_Farming_Sector_in_The_Netherlands_A_Reflection_on_Its_Developments_and_Promising_Innovations](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341219201_The_Care_Farming_Sector_in_The_Netherlands_A_Reflection_on_Its_Developments_and_Promising_Innovations). Referred to 14.8.2023. * Visio. [https://www.visio.org/en-gb/home/](https://www.visio.org/en-gb/home/). Referred to 14.8.2023.